Road bike vs Tri Bike

evaIMMT

 Hi Everyone -

I only have a road bike and would appreciate your thoughts/recommendations on completing my first IM with a road bike or a tri bike.

Thanks, E

ezellrh

Eva, I think most will say it's up to you and your available resources. Personally, I've done IMs on both types of frames. If you can afford and get into a good position on a tri-bike, it will probably be faster on most courses. However, its totally ok to ride whichever you want. Bottom line, ride what you want / can afford.

tgarson

I don't disagree with Roy, but I will use slightly stronger wording. There are very few IM courses in the world where a properly fit Tri bike will not be considerably faster than a road bike, and I can't think of a single IM course in North America that falls into that category.

Beyond that, it's simply a matter of budget and prioritization of your goals. Some people are perfectly happy just to participate and complete races for the joy and accomplishment of finishing and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, I do feel I should mention one other commonly cited argument that always comes up with this question; comfort. A properly fit tri bike, with appropriately developed positional fitness, should be no less comfortable than any road bike. Furthermore, if properly ridden, the tri bike will have you go faster for less energy, resulting in less total time on the bike, less fatigue, and overall leaving you more prepared to enter the run.

So in summary, a tri bike is almost universally the better choice assuming the obvious caveats of budget, fit, fitness and proper execution.

Kkaufer

 Agree with whats been written here. I would just add one more factor to consider and that is "mental" comfort i. E. are you comfortable training in aero bars? Not so much physically, but how stable and balanced are you on the bike? Can you handle cars blowing by you when you're in the aerobRs? For me thats a major concern and key reason why i havent made the transition yet.

Al Truscott

This question is, Should I use (presumably therefore buy a new) TT/tri-bike for an IM? An Ironman is a HUGE committment and choice, and needs to be approached with respect and awareness of the rigor of both the training and the effort on the day itself. We're not talking about what equipment to take to one's first sprint triathlon.

• Cost: in the context of the entry fee, travel costs, lodging, monthly EN fee, and all other associated $$ spent on getting ready for an IM ... once one has made this level of financial committment, it seems to me the cost of an entry level TT bike is just part of the game.
• Comfort: I've ridden a LOT of miles over the past few decades on both road and TT bikes (to say nothing of mountain bikes, commuting, tandem ...) Six-seven hours on my (properly fitted) TT bike is easier to take on my butt and arms/shoulders than six hours on my (touring geometry) road bike. Seems counter-intuitive, but trust me on this.
• Speed, fatigue: no question that one goes faster with less effort on a TT bike than a road bike. Why beat yourself up if you don't have to? You've still got a marathon to conquer.

Bottom line, to me: if one is doing an IM as "One and done", just to participate and tick off the Life List, then find a similar sized friend who has a TT bike, and cajole them into letting you use it, and get it properly fitted. If Triathlon is something which looks like a multi-year endevour, irrespective of your desire to go fast or look good, get a TT bike which fits your body type and your budget. You're not planning on running the marathon in canvas sneakers, and nor swimming 2.4 miles in a surfing wet suit.

cgres123

My 2 cent is, if you cannot afford a Tri-Bike at a minimum put aero bars on your road bike and get a re-fit that will make you more comfortable in that position. I don't have a scientific fact for you but I was told for every 1 sec you are out of that sweet aero dynamic position you lose 2 sec.

Dino Sarti

I agree with EVERYTHING said above, but would add the following - buying a new bike is expensive. Getting a really specialized one like a TT bike is a real commitment. If you just want to see the differences or do a "one and done" like Al mentions, there are options. For under $200 you can modify your road bike to get you in the ball park, sort of.

A TT bike is going to bring you forward on the bike and then down low in the front (read: aero). I have seen people, super fast doodes, just slam their seat all the way forward, remove every spacer under their stem and then flip the step upside down. This is will bring you forward and bring you down. After that, get yourself a set of clip-on aero bars. Presto - forward, low and in the bars. Want to change it back? 10 minutes and few allen keys and your back on your roadie....

Just something to think about....

Full disclosure - I RIDE A TT BIKE TO RACE TRIATHLON

Mark Cardinale

I was in the exact same situation as you were….Debating the difference and need to go with a TT bike vs. continuing to use my road bike. I was riding a Cannondale Synapse with a set of clip on aero-bars and a forward facing seatpost. I did a ton of research this past summer while doing 2 sprints, 2 Olympics and a HIM all on on my roadbike. In September I made the decision to go with a TT bike because:

> I discovered that I really enjoy doing triathlon and that it’s not likely to be a “one and done” endeavor for me

> I plan to step up to longer distances where the benefits of TT bike become greater

> I really want to test myself to see what I am able to do and I feel like a TT bike is just the right tool for the job, at least  for me

After switching to my TT bike I did another HIM on a much tougher course in much  tougher conditions and I was a few minutes faster, but more importantly, I was way more stable and more comfortable on my TT bike because of the geometry change. Going with a TT bike is not a small investment and it’s easy to get sucked into spending more than you intend, but for me it was the right decision and I have honestly not looked back. I still use my road bike for riding around with my kids and it’s actually what I have on my trainer now, but for racing I think it’s hard to beat a TT bike if you can swing it.

 

As everyone has stated the decision comes down to personal choice based on one’s circumstances and goals.

Good luck with your decision!

astokes30

It's not the bike...it's the engine! I did my first IM, IMWI in Sept on a road bike...no aero anything...nothing...and was more than fine! It is the only bike I have or will have for a long while, so it is what it is.
Knowing that, I focused on creating a strong "engine" through last OS and all through the summer and spring. I feel the most comfortable (since I am fairly a novice biker) riding on the hoods or drops.

Now, Coach Rich suggested I install "shorty bars" to my road biek over regular bars since they are more size appropriate for road bikes. I did not feel comfortable doing it 6 wks before the IM, so I just recently had them professionally installed and my fit tweaked a wee bit. I used them on the trainer yesterday for my 1st OS test and loved the position, but again I am locked into a trainer and not on the road.

My suggestion is to try the set up I have (Coach Rich approved ) and get comfortable using the aero bars while riding if you are at all considering the $$$ for a tri bike.

It does also depend on what IM you have choosen to do. I did Wisconsin, so lots of climbing. Could I have used an aero position on race day? YES. Did I have one? NO was I fine and able to complete the bike faster than some peeps in full $$$ bike set up, race wheels and aero helmets? YES.

It's all what you are used to...and work on the engine first in the OS!! Happy training!!

Dino Sarti

+1 Annie!

Also - This notion of comfort boggles me. I am as comfortable as possible on my TT bike. I have had Todd Kenyon fit me and have also had a retul fit to tweak it ever so slightly. At the risk of sounding silly, I will proclaim my TT fit to be dialed in. That being said, my road bike is far more comfortable then my TT bike. I can also make more power on it, it climbs better, descends like a demon and corners like it's on rails (although, I did break a frame this year in a crash while descending ) That's why is called a road racing bike.

If TT bikes were more comfy and had a better ride, they would do every stage of the Tour de France on TT bikes.... The TT bike is good for Triathlon, IM in particular, because of the flat to "flattish" courses, the steady riding required and the no drafting, solo time trail nature of the bike leg, in my humble opinion. I ride a TT bike because it is faster around the solo course at lower power leaving fresher legs due to the aero advantage. For me personally, it is not about comfort.

Sorry for the thread highjack....

Peter Carroll

I did IMCDA a few years ago on a road bike with areo bars and was fine. Then last fall I bought a used TT bike. Then I got hurt, but ended up doing the same 1/2 IM in July as I had done the year before. I had almost no training for it for 2 months prior to the race and ended up beating my bike time from the previous year AND had an awesome run. Not sure it was the bike, but I sure felt a lot faster on it and a lot more rested after the bike.

This is a good time to keep an eye on craigslist for a used bike. I got a 2 year old bike for 1/2 price... Also, lots of places have end of year sales so you can get 30-40% off a TT bike.

GMAN 19030

Posted By Dino Sarti on 31 Oct 2012 01:25 AM



If TT bikes were more comfy and had a better ride, they would do every stage of the Tour de France on TT bikes.

The only reason they do not is because of drafting.  If the TdF was no drafting, they would mostly ride TT bikes because they're aerodynamically superior.  Sure, there would be considerations in the mountain stages where the handling of the road bike would overrule the aero aspects of a TT bike but they would ride the faster bike if the race were a solo effort.  Drafting, especially in the huge packs at the TdF, makes being aero a non-issue.

GMAN 19030

Posted By Annie Stokes on 30 Oct 2012 04:12 PM

It's not the bike...it's the engine! I did my first IM, IMWI in Sept on a road bike...no aero anything...nothing...and was more than fine! It is the only bike I have or will have for a long while, so it is what it is.

Knowing that, I focused on creating a strong "engine" through last OS and all through the summer and spring. I feel the most comfortable (since I am fairly a novice biker) riding on the hoods or drops.

Yes, a poorly trained individual will not be good on any bike so the engine certainly accounts for a lot.

That being stated, it's science.  A tri bike puts the rider in a more aero position which results in less drag which results in greater speeds.  That's irrefutable.  As you said, you were more than fine doing an IM on a road bike but you would have been faster on a tri bike.  More than fine does not mean optimal.  Once you have the engine... it's the bike.

Any of us with a power meter and a tri bike know exactly how much faster a tri bike can be by following a very simple test done on the same stretch of road in the same wind conditions.  Sit up on the bars and ride at a predetermined wattage (use 80% for example) for a mile and check your average speed.  Now get aero, ride the same watts and check the speed.  Odds are you'll see at least a 2 mph difference in speed.  Wind speeds dependent, of course.  A strong headwind makes the aero position even more important.  A 2 mph difference over 112 miles is a substantial amount of time.  The difference between 18 mph and 20 mph over 112 miles is 38 minutes. The difference between 20 and 22 mph is 31 minutes.

Any bike will get you from point A to point B.  I'd just as soon do it the fastest way possible.

astokes30

That being stated, it's science. A tri bike puts the rider in a more aero position which results in less drag which results in greater speeds. That's irrefutable. As you said, you were more than fine doing an IM on a road bike but you would have been faster on a tri bike. More than fine does not mean optimal. Once you have the engine... it's the bike.

Totally agree Bob! However, the question of being able to complete a first IM on a road bike (if that is all you have) is YES!

Eva, try the road bike. If you have the $$$ for a tri bike, by all means get one. However, don't think that you can not complete an IM on a road bike. True, it will be a slower split than on a tri bike, but it can still be done well.

Now...for my money tree to sprout so I can get a tri bike!!

JenRich

This discussion makes me want a tri bike even more. I did my first IM on a road bike, and will do my second on it as well. Love my bike -- but seeing how I'm slow, getting extra speed just from a different bike choice sure would be nice.

Annie - if you find a money tree sprouting tri bike money let me know

Dino Sarti

@Bob - I totally agree on the drafting angle. My comments were really related to issues of comfort and bike handling....

Scott Alexander

And not many people, except maybe Nemo's fave pro Fabian Cancellara, can bomb downhill on a TT/tri bike and handle it like a road bike on those descents (his olympic road race experience, excluded of course).

Steve West

Eva, I did my first IM on a roadie cause that is all I had at the time. I did consider getting a new bike but decided that i'd be much better off with a power meter than an aero bike. Best decision I could have made. Since then I did get a new TT bike. If it's a choice of one or the other, get the power meter.

[Deleted User]

I did the same as Steve - got a power meter first, then a TT bike later (based on feedback in these forums I might add).